PACIFIC INSTITUTE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 30

PACIFIC INSTITUTE.

CONFERENCE CLOSES. SIR FREDERICK WHITE'S REVIEW. HONOLULU. June 28. The Institute of Pacific Relations has officially closed the sessions. Sir Frederick White, summarising the results for Britain, said: “It is because of our experience in disagreements and efforts for pcaceftfi solutions of such disagreements that our commonwealth is committed to the League of Nations. This conference is a bold experiment because of the men and •women who have faith in the future. Its main, value is personal contact. If political, economic, and social discussions had not taken place these contacts would still make the meeting worth while. Like all such meetings around the table, the minimum of agreement,, even on the most controversial subjects has been larger than believed possible. The discussion on many points developed the need for more facts, for which reason the conference will lead up to definite projects for research.” The Pacific Council met to-day for the purpose of signing the constitution of the Permanent Institute and selecting a tentative place and time for the next meeting, which will probably be in the Orient.

A PERMANENT CONSTITUTION. IMPROVING MUTUAL RELATIONS. HONOLULU, July 30. The Institute of Pacific Relations has adopted a permanent constitution tor organisation, which is subject to ratification by the National Council’s various centres, and has elected officers for the next two years. Mr R. L. Wilbur, of Stanford University, California, was re-elected chairman. Japan’s division is to choose the first vice-chairman, and China’s the second. The next meeting will probably bo in Tokio or Shanghai. The constitution states that the object of the institute is to study the conditions of the Pacific peoples with a view to an improvement of mutual relations. Tho new constitution was signed by Messrs Eggleston, Nash, Whyte. Yuu (for China), Ishii (for Japan), and Wilbur. Governor Farrington, of Hawaii, made the farewell address. RESEARCH SECRETARY APPOINTED. PROFESSOR CONDLTFFE SELECTED. HONOLULU, July 31. Professor J. B. Condliffe, of New Zealan dj hag been chosen research secretary on the Advisory Committee of the Pacific Relations Institute. The next meeting will probably be held in some Oriental country in 1929. PACIFIC INSTITUTE DISCUSSION. HONOLULU, July 28. The conference discussed human migration as a major international problem, and then issued the following communique : — “The attempt to disentangle racial from cultural aspects proved too difficult with our present limited knowledge. There

seemed to be a consensus of opinion that emigration is not a solution of the present over-population of Japan, but it was pointed out that the situation might be alleviated by freer access to raw materials. A disagreement resulted not because of the restrictions, but because the present methods of restriction are unsatisfactory. The Japanese members criticised the United States method as less satisfactory than the British dominions’ method. The Australian delegate explained the policy of maintaining a high living standard, and declared that an immigrant influx from any countrv outside the British Empire would be opposed.” Mr Hall referred to the present free migration of Hindus within the British Empire as an interesting policy from which much might be learned in the open forum. The discussion revealed that most of the speakers believed that the common interests of the nations demand the retarding of the immigration process. Professor G. L. Wood (Melbourne) said that most of the nations would fight against taking over their neighbour’s surplus children.